Burning Desire ✔︎

7 - You My Friend Are Whipped

"She's what?" Carter exclaimed.

"Living with me for now." I explained the situation.

My heart skipped a beat as I processed Carter's words. The girl who had consumed my thoughts for the past month, the one I couldn't help but secretly follow from a distance, was now under the same roof as me. It was an unexpected twist in the plot of my life, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension.

"Wow, that's really something, huh? Your mystery girl, whom you been worked up about for the past month is living with you!" He blurted out, unable to contain his astonishment.

I glanced at the stove and muttered Oh, shoot, the French toasts."

Caught off guard by my sudden change of topic. "You're making French toast?" He asked surprised.

"Yeah," I replied grinning  "I want to impress her, you know, make her feel at home."

"Willy, you really like this girl, don't you?" Carter's voice held a mix of curiosity and concern.

I nodded, my gaze drifting to the floor. "Yeah, C, I really do. I can't explain it, but there's something about her that draws me in. I've never felt this way before."

Carter chuckled softly, his voice filled with a mixture of amusement and affection. "Yeah, I should know. You've never made French toast for anyone, well, actually, anyone, not even me, your best friend."

A faint heat crept up my cheeks as I scratched the back of my head sheepishly. It was true—I had never gone out of my way to cook for anyone before. But for her, I wanted to do everything I could to make her feel special, to show her that she mattered.

A sudden realization hit me, and I fumbled with my words. "Well, I got to go. Alexis will be waking up soon, and I have to take her shopping for new clothes and stuff."

Carter's eyes widened, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. "Wow. You, my friend, are whipped."

I sighed, unable to deny the truth in his words. "Yeah, I know. But it's worth it. She's worth it."

Carter patted me on the back, offering his support. "I can see that, Will. Just remember to take care of yourself too, okay?"

I nodded, grateful for his friendship and understanding. But deep down, a flicker of doubt lingered. I couldn't help but wonder if she felt the same way about me. I could tell she didn't exactly hate me, but deciphering her true feelings remained a puzzle I yearned to solve.

About an hour later she walked down the stairs her soft voice greeting me. "Good morning, Will."

A smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I sat up, feeling the warmth of her presence filling the room. "Oh, good morning, sweetheart. How did you sleep?"

Her reply was filled with genuine delight. "Great. That bed is so soft, I love it."

"You know, my bed is very soft too," I teased playfully, hoping to lighten the mood. "You should try it out."

She hesitated for a moment, contemplating my invitation. "Yeah, maybe I should. We can trade tonight."

My heart skipped a beat at the thought of sharing a bed with her, even if it was just for cuddling.

"I was thinking we could sleep in it together." I said with a teasing tone.

Her rejection hit me like a cold gust of wind, momentarily leaving me speechless. "Yeah, no. Not gonna happen. I will never sleep with you," she stated firmly, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.

I quickly tried to salvage the situation, my voice tinged with embarrassment. "I wasn't talking in that sense. I meant we could cuddle. I heard it's going to be very cold tonight." I said smirking